The Fate Of Rei Kuromiya
The story of Rei’s past was hard to sit through.
They had been through so much... from love to pain to loneliness. It was enough to make you question if there was really anything you could do for her.
Now, how do you wish to proceed, oh lost soul?
For the first time since meeting her last night, Rei smiled. She glanced at the sky and then back at you, pulling out a small roll of paper which she then wrote elegantly with instructions for what items she would need. Clear water from the household she was born in with a basin, sea salt along with a blessed wooden dipper from the local Inari shrine.
“Please bring me these at nightfall.” Rei bowed to you and smiled before vanishing.
Night was approaching as you stepped back through the entrance of the yagura, and you could immediately feel eyes on you. Rei jumped down from a near tree, beaming with excitement. She was hesitant that you would actually return yet here you were.
You placed the items in front of them and nodded. “I got what you needed, though it was a bit more difficult than you expected I think.” You laughed a bit, but felt an overwhelming sensation of good come over you as you had faith this would work.
“Oh soul, I never said it would be easy.” Rei smirked a bit, but nodded thankfully to you. “Thank you... I must begin right away though if we want this to succeed... Thank you lost soul.” She turned a bit, and then asked. “Do you wish to stay with me for this? Or shall you take your leave?”
Upon you nodding and saying you were to stay; Rei began the ritual to hopefully set her free. Firstly, she began to purify herself as was the custom before all Shinto rituals. She took the blessed dipper in her right hand, scooping the water and washed her left hand with the water from her old home. Gracefully, she transferred the dipper to her left hand without splashing it. She washed her right hand now, before moving the dipper back into her right hand. Rei carefully dripped water into the palm of her left hand, tipping it to her mouth and, tried to as respectfully as she could, spit the water onto some nearby rocks. Before finishing, she cleansed the dippers handle and placed it scoop side down into the basin.
Rei then dropped into a small bow, hands clasped together to thank the kami for their aid in purifying her. Upon finishing this step, she placed her hands in the salt and clapped them together twice as she chanted a small phrase in a forgotten dialect of Japanese. She fell quiet for a moment before nodding in determination.
Now the actual ritual was beginning. The moon peaked through the clouds, a strand of moonlight hitting between Rei and yourself now. Rei now brought herself into a kneeling position, her hands pushed together and her head bowed towards them. The rocks around you quivered, as if energy in the area spiked at the sheer emotion being emitted by Rei. Once they began to lift from the ground was when she lifted to her feet gracefully in a single motion.
The motions Rei embraced were smooth and subtle in the beginning. Small, slow sloping motions as she took one step in front of the other in small circle. The rocks now circled her in the same motion, both moving calmly. It was mesmerizing. The circles rippled out as she moved out more and more. The rocks that were entangled in her energy, started to pick up in speed and a set of three specifically orbited around her head now.
The motions changed then, as an odori was enacted. There was a shift now, and it was clear that this was not completely Rei. No, something stronger was here with them. Rei rolled her head, her motions sharper and precise as she leapt gracefully around in the circles she previously conformed to. Her arms flowed out to her side, her frame dropping down and flaring her tails as she continued the dance. Her eyes were closed and it was clear she had given into the dance fully now.
Quick leaps along with pulling and pushing motions ignited an intense form of energy throughout the yagura that you sat around. You noted that Rei was circling in onto her starting spot. The tension in the air was tangible the closer she got to the center of the circle. She looked as if she was putting on a dramatic fight scene, one with herself. Her tails intwined behind her as she took her final steps towards the center of the circle, her body slowing back down now. Her fingers stretched to the moon, before pulling over her face. As she did, the energy in the stones that circled her faded and the rocks drifted back to the ground.
Rei dropped, catching herself on her hands and knees. She panted, clearly out of breath now. You rose, and hesitantly took a step forward. But you were stopped as she shook her head, placing her hand up as a sign to hold on. Collecting herself, she released a heavy breath. A light hearted smile fixed to her features as she looked up at you, eyes connecting with yours.
“Soba?”
“Soba...?” You responded.
“Do you mind if we get soba, oh lost soul?”
And with that, the ‘curse’ was released.
All because someone came and listened to the story of the yagura kitsune.
All because someone was willing to get her freedom.
Rei nodded, sadly if anything. She wouldn’t push you to help her, it was her problem and her fault. But she couldn’t help but hope that her story would have changed your mind. “I respect your wishes, and thank you for listening to my story.” Rei bowed to you deeply in respect. “I wish you luck in your journey oh lost soul.”